What is Gluten?

Consumers are not well informed around the topic of gluten, according to a new survey from NSF International, a global public health and safety organization. The survey, conducted by ORC International, found that despite having heard of gluten, most Americans cannot correctly define it or identify products that could contain the protein.

The survey of 1,012 Americans found that although 90 percent have heard of gluten, only 35 percent correctly identify it as a protein found in wheat and related grains, such as barley and rye. Common misconceptions among those who have heard of gluten are that wheat-free products are also gluten-free (26 percent) and gluten is wheat (15 percent).